Page 90 of Hot Shot

“It is, honey. It really is. It’ll look fantastic in my office,” her dad says.

“That’s what I thought.” Carrie’s shoulders lower from their tense position up near her ears.

We’re on our way out, saying goodbyes and exchanging hugs, when I overhear Carrie’s mom say something about their garage door not working.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with it,” she says to James. “Some piece came off the track or something. Dad looked at it but he said it’s broken and needs welding.”

“What’s that?” I speak up. “Something needs welding?”

Cheryl nods. “Our garage door.” She smiles. “That’s why both vehicles are parked in the driveway and everyone else had to park on the street. We’ll call someone next week to fix it.”

“Let me have a look. I’m a welder.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yeah. That was the trade I learned in the Navy. I wanted to do underwater welding, so I started working on swimming and learning to dive, and then I did underwater construction and demolition—repairing ships and submarines.”

“Wow.” Her eyes widen and the air in the room shifts.

“I still want to see your sculptures,” Julia pipes up. “Aunt Carrie, will you take me next week?”

“Uh, sure, sweetie.”

I follow Cheryl into the garage and inspect the problem. “Yeah, I could fix this if I had equipment with me. How about I pop back tomorrow morning?”

“You could do that?”

“Of course. Not a big deal at all.”

“That would be fantastic.”

I smile and we arrange a time, then Carrie and I leave.

“I want a picture like that,” I say when we’re in my Jeep.

“Like what? The one I gave my dad?”

“Yeah. Not that exact one. But I want one of your pictures.”

She grins. “You can buy them at Bowes Gallery.”

I snort softly. “Okay then. I’ll do that.”

She tilts her head. “I was kidding. I have tons of pictures I can give you. You can pick one.”

“No,youpick one. Before you go. I want something you pick.”

Our eyes meet and hold.

Then I look back at the road and pull out from where I parked.

Before you go.

Jesus. I spent the afternoon having fun with her family, admiring her, defending her even. I’m getting in deep and we both know that’s not what this is supposed to be. Because she’s leaving.

19

CARRIE

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